Teen to mark 18th birthday in prison

Lauguadian Harris, 17, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for his role in a robbery last year at the Rodeway Motel on Neubrecht Road. Prosecutors said Harris has an extensive criminal history as a juvenile.

J Swygart | The Lima News

LIMA — A Lima teenager who prosecutors said has a lengthy criminal record as a juvenile will spend his 18th birthday — and several more such milestones —behind bars.

Luquanvian Harris, 17, was sentenced Friday to six years in prison on charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony that included a mandatory three-year prison sentence for the use of a firearm during the commission of the crime, and an amended second-degree charge of burglary.

Harris entered guilty pleas to those charges as part of a negotiated settlement with prosecutors in January. The teenager was originally indicted by an Allen County grand jury in December of last year on aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft for the improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Prosecutors say Harris and three other individuals broke into the Rodeway Motel on Neuchbrecht Road in Lima with the intent to commit a theft. Harris and the others reportedly were brandishing weapons at the time and physically assaulted one individual during the robbery before stealing cash and pills that were contained in a safe.

Assistant Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Destiny Caldwell said Harris committed the crime while on probation in juvenile court on a previous charge. Caldwell said Harris’ criminal history has been “escalating” since his first encounter with the judicial system in 2016. She asked the court to impose a “lengthy sentence.”

Judge Jeffrey Reed sentenced Harris to three years of mandatory prison time on the aggravated robbery charge, to be served following the completion of the mandatory three-year term for firearm specification. An additional two-year prison term on the burglary charge will be served concurrently with the other count.

Lauguadian Harris, 17, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for his role in a robbery last year at the Rodeway Motel on Neubrecht Road. Prosecutors said Harris has an extensive criminal history as a juvenile.

https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2019/05/web1_Laquandian-Harris.jpgLauguadian Harris, 17, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for his role in a robbery last year at the Rodeway Motel on Neubrecht Road. Prosecutors said Harris has an extensive criminal history as a juvenile. J Swygart | The Lima News